Clarifying the Construction Skills Levy

Construction Skills, the awarding body for the Industry, operate a levy and grand system that allows funding for up skilling of individuals within the Industry. Each operative who is engaged with a Company who are registered to the Levy scheme can be partly funded for the acquisition of 5 separate accreditations which can include 2 NVQs, Health & Safety training etc.

All, in all, the overall purpose of the scheme is to enable individuals to pursue their own CPD (continuous personal development) within the Industry as a whole and thus improving the general culture of the Industry. In 2010 alone, over £113 million was distributed in training grants.

Deductions made by employers to employees as a contribution to their levy commitment.

Under the Industrial Training Act 1982 a levy was put in place, originally by C.I.T.B., now Construction Skills, that was paid by “in scope” employers to be a vehicle for employers to draw down grants for up skilling of their workforce. The act does not give authorisation to deduct any amounts paid to labour only sub contractors or any other worker.